Sheila Mcclain's Fitness Culture: A Growing Trend In America

Exercise means to do a physical activity for the improvement of health and the body. In an over expanding society, this word has been viewed in various lights especially when it is combined with the word cult. The question being asked by society is: is the tribe mentality in the exercise comunity good? Some may argue that being in a supportive group is an essential element of a good exercise program. While there might be reason to believe that, a tribal mentality should not be accepted in the exercise community because it brings antagonistic attitudes and cult-like manners to a certain group.

This general awareness resulted in about 17% of the U.S. population becoming more enthusiastically committed to fitness activities, with 63% recognizing the importance of fitness activities and 25% of whom actually attending health fitness clubs. Also, a recent survey showed that 37% of exercisers were motivated by the desire to control weight. Consciousness about body image and the desire to reduce stress and meet new people also had an impact on the health club phenomenon.

Over the past century, physical activity has been on the rapid decline. Developed countries no longer rely on movement to work and survive. America especially has spent less and less time being physically active. In the present day, the average American can perform most necessary tasks from behind a desk or on a couch. There is no need for exercise or excessive body movements. However, despite the decrease in physical activity, there is a simple solution by encouraging physical activity through the use of technology. Technology is a method which provides a way for physical activity to be fun and competitive. It increases the ease and desire to work out and stay in shape. Although it is a double-edged sword that can be used both to inspire and minimize physical activity, I believe that technology encourages physical activity by providing competition, ease, and entertaining approaches to exercise.

Living a healthy lifestyle is a goal many individuals have and that could either be eating vigorous nutritious meals or being active outside in the world, going to the gym for instance. The condition of being physically fit and healthy is what fitness is. Not many people realize the importance of it until they can’t fit in their own jeans. Many individuals argue that there isn’t enough time for the gym or that there is no point in going because it can cause injury, but in reality, it’s all worth it after you realize the outcomes of working out and eating healthy. There is always time to make your life fit and healthier. In order to join this discourse community, a person must learn the typical ways people in that community interact and argue. I will demonstrate that I have entered this discourse community of fitness by obtaining necessary knowledge, establishing strong credibility, and learning to influence other members of the community to strive for more.

In 2008, Sanjay Gupta, neurosurgeon, wrote Stuck on the Couch in the New York Times as an incentive for people to stay active. He focuses on exercise and sticking to a routine while raising the question that if everyone knows it is healthy to work out, then why do so many people fall off the bandwagon? To effectively communicate his purpose Gupta uses compelling rhetorical questions to make the reader question themselves, basic and rigid structure to make it easier on the reader, and alludes to other doctors supporting his claims.

During the 1920’s people thought that if the body is fit it is going to reflect to the mind and if there is fitness in society it is going to result efficiency in society. This idea resulted a society that focuses in physical training more than

What can Americans do to make a sedentary lifestyle change? Despite Americans unhealthy habits and the obesity epidemic plaguing the Country, a change in sedentary lifestyle such as: Regular physical activities, and better eating in conjunction with a better diet are steps that can be taken immediately to remedy the situation and put Americans on the path of recovery.

The institutional level of Figueroa’s framework level examines the institutions within society that affect sport and physical activity (Kirk, 2004). Institutions such as schools, community groups, sporting clubs, and religious groups are able to help shape positive attitudes to sport and physical activity. The accessibility of aerobics classes and equipment are very limited compared to many other sports. In the Brisbane area there are only 3 aerobics classes compared to the 1219 rugby league classes (Google maps, 2013). This is a staggering 400 times more and is very influential to the fact that participation levels are lower and can be the reason why many people view it as a dance class due to the lack of availability of facilities. There are also no aerobics competitions within Australia and this is another factor in influencing people’s perceptions. Schools feature prominently when discussing how people’s early attitudes towards sport are shaped. Some schools with strong sporting traditions reinforce participation in sport. The sports that students are encouraged to participate in can depend on the school’s history and traditions, the facilities and equipment available, and the expertise of the

The voice perceived from Eleanor Robinson’s essay, “CrossFit: the new fitness craze has a lot to tell us about late western capitalism,” has an emphatically melodramatic tone to its words. The essay is written with emphasis on Robinson’s opinions and her ability to persuade the reader the reader, rather than facts and data, as if the essay is essentially a personal narrative on the topic. Robinson’s essay sheds light on a relatively new fitness trend that many Americans have increasingly started to participate in: CrossFit. Robinson claims that this wellness trend is as comical as it is disturbingly unsafe, as she writes that, “There are of course plenty of fit, lovely people who enjoy CrossFit, some of whom even have all their original limbs. To those people, I say: get out now!” While analytically interpreting this quote, the reader may identify several expressions in the voice of the author, all of which pertaining to the idea of the melodramatic voice in her words, as she writes about the consumer loyalty for CrossFit as a new fitness trend. It is evident in Robinson’s quote of her sardonic point-of-view on the fitness trend, as she presumes the fitness trend is not only dangerous, but comical because of the support and popularity associated with it.. Although scarce in the essay, Robinson’s usage of facts and data to support her argument of CrossFit being an unsafe fitness trend also backs-up her melodramatic voice. An example of such data is that 73.5% of CrossFitters become injured at some point in their lifetimes directly from the workouts, Robinson claims. She also refers to the fact that, “Injuries and exertion vomiting are used as a marketing tactic,” and, “The shoulder reconstruction goes with the rippling abdominals,” to compare CrossFit to other, less dangerous and injurious fitness trends. As the essay closes, Robinson writes about how western capitalism and CrossFit relate to one another, in which she agrees with the stereotype that only post industrial-knowledge workers (particularly those who are more financially successful) with a non-labor-intensive occupation will be willing to, “pay $200 a month to throw weights around

The book begins by explaining how important exercise and being active is to our health and well-being. The author then transitions into a story about Naperville Central High School. This high school was in the forefront of a revolutionary new concept

As exposure to the male body expands, the demand for “chiseled” bodies greatens. In recent years, the number of memberships and frequency of visits to health clubs has increased (Luciano 3). In one year alone, four billion dollars was spent on exercise equipment and health club memberships. “An estimated eighty-five million Americans, mostly male, are doing some sort of weight

The media has distorted people’s views on the way they look at their own body image. The media has shown what their ideal body type is, while leaving people to feel as if the average weight is not good enough. (Cardosi, 2006) We live in a world where people feel as if having zero body fat is the idea body type to have. Pictures of models for clothing stores, bathing suits, lingerie etc. all exhibit to this to be true. Body image is perceived to be negatively influenced by the media and the way that the media displays their models. Parents, teachers, adolescence and even children all find themselves to be comparing themselves based on what the media exposes. (Levine & Murnen, 2009)

In the past, it seems that people were more active than they are today. The types of jobs that people did were different, often being more physically demanding. Plus, fewer people owned cars and so they had to either walk or cycle everywhere. Exercise was something people did without necessarily having to think about it. They just got out on their bike or walked, whereas now exercise is viewed as somewhat of an inconvenience that you have to get dressed up for and take time out of your day to do. That is why so many people join a gym – because they think joining it will give them

According to Dr. Claudia Walther, a doctor from the Heart Centre of the University of Leipzig, “People today have different lifestyles than in the past...they’re less active…” Currently, exercise is portrayed as too hard and people have become lazy. They don't want to have to work and spend time exercising.

Issues containing weight control, fitness, and nutrition are a prime subject in today 's culture. Completive companies are existent and they have many different levels of health clubs and fitness centers; this contains everything thing from price, equipment, staff , activities and classes offered. In the present time, topics being subjected through the industry are; disease control and research, diet and fitness trends of 2005, performance running, life balance, eating and sleeping right, working out according to personality and foods to lower cholesterol. Many people from The States are on a constant search for what is new, healthy and trendy. Health and fitness clubs were put in our society to make people feel and look good, and now not only are they there for that but they are making a large profit as